The American economist and mathematician Eric Maskin, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2007, shared his perspective on various current issues during an interview in Murcia. Maskin expressed his concern about the tariff policy implemented by the Trump administration, pointing out that this measure not only harms the economy of the United States but also the rest of the world by reducing global trade.
In relation to the crisis in Germany and the situation in Italy or France, Maskin highlighted that these countries could learn from Spain's economic model, which currently stands out in Europe. He encouraged the partners of the European Union to follow Spain's example and move in that direction. Additionally, the economist praised the U.S. stance of supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, but now believes that Europe must take the lead in this aspect, which implies increasing defense spending.
Regarding cryptocurrencies, Maskin expressed his disapproval of those created privately due to their lack of regulation by central banks and their potential use for criminal activities. Instead, he advocated for central banks to issue their own digital currencies rather than resorting to private cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
On the other hand, Maskin was optimistic about the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in economic growth, mentioning that this technology will allow people to engage in creative and scientific tasks by handling routine and repetitive work.
Amid global political and economic uncertainty, the economist emphasized that Europe has the opportunity to lead during these times, especially given the U.S. stance of withdrawing from international agreements. Maskin urged Europe to increase its global influence in the absence of U.S. participation and to take a leadership role in economic and political matters internationally.
